1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Power Train Problems

TRANSMISSION ERROR CODE, SOLENOID STUCK OPEN

Mileage: 45

A FAULTY CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CAUSED THE LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS UNTIL THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED. THE SAME CONDITIONS AS A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. YET THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR IS COMMON ON ALL AUTOS. THUS ALL AUTOS THAT USE A CRANKSHAFT SENSOR ARE UNSAFE.[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 10,000

THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. IT CAUGHT FIRE 30 MIN AFTER IT WAS PARKED AND BURNED THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FORE DEPARTMENT STOPPED THE FIRE BEFORE IT SPREAD TO THE REST OF THE CAR. IT WAS A GOOD CAR PREVIOUS TO THIS INSTANCE. WE MAINTAINED THE CAR WELL AND HAD IT LOOKED OVER BY A MECHANIC MONTHLY. WE WILL NEVER OWN A PONTIAC AGAIN. *TR

Mileage: 178,348

DRIVING TO WORK AS NORMAL AND TOOK OFF FROM A FULL STOP WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR WAS GOING NUTS TRYING TO CATCH A GEAR. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT BLINKED THAN STAYED ON AND NOW WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 1ST AND 3RD GEAR CAR SPUTTERS, SHAKES, SLAMS INTO GEAR HARD AND I NEED TO KEEP GIVING IT GAS TO GET IT TO CATCH SO I MOVE AND DON'T GET STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF MAKING A TURN. IT IS A 99 GRAND PRIX SE 3800 ENGINE SEDAN AND I BROUGHT IT TO MY GOOD FRIEND WHO OWNS A SHOP AND THE COMPUTER SAID IT WAS A C1 MISFIRE SOLENOID OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. ON MY ENGINE, THE LEFT SIDE HAS 3 THINGS THAT 2 SPARK PLUG WIRES GOES INTO EACH AND ARE LABELED 1/3, 2/5 AND 4/6 (MIGHT BE WRONG ON NUMBERS). THE CODE WAS SAYING THE FIRST ONE THAT SAYS 1/3 WAS BAD CAUSING THE MISFIRE. WE CHANGED THE PART AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LINE WENT OFF AND CAR DROVE FINE. THE NEXT MORNING I WENT TO GO WORK AND AT THE FIRST LIGHT, I GO TO TAKE OFF AND IT STARTS SHAKING AND SPUTTERS AND BECOMES ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. DURING THIS THE SERVICE ENGINE LINE BLINKED THAN STAYED ON STEADY. NOW THE CAR HAS TROUBLE CATCHING A GEAR FROM 1ST TO 3RD AND IT FEELS LIKE A ROLLER COASTER JUST TRYING TO TAKE OFF FROM A STOP OR DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC. I REPLACED EVERYTHING ELSE ON THE CAR AND GIVE UP WITH PROBLEMS. THERE HAS TO BE A DEFECT THAT PONTIAC WON'T ADMIT. *TR

Mileage: 158,000

TRANSMISSION SLIP'S REAL BAD. THE CAR ROCKS BACK AND FORTH WHEN SLOWLY ACCELERATING. WHAT WILL BE DONE ABOUT THIS? THIS MY ONLY FORM OF TRANSPORTATION. *TR

Mileage: 125,000

DT: THE CAR IS DYING WITHOUT WARNING. THERE ARE NO LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD THAT LIGHT UP WHEN THIS HAPPENS. AFTER THE VEHICLE DIES, THE BATTERY LIGHT IS COMING ON. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER A YEAR. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP OVER 15 TIMES FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AT THIS POINT. ALSO, TRIED A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP, AND THEY COULD FIND THE PROBLEM EITHER. THE CONSUMER SAYS HER CAR IS A DEATH TRAP, AND THIS IS HAPPENING ANYWHERE/ANYTIME. THIS PAST WEEKEND THE CAR DIED 4 TIMES ON THE FREEWAY. CONSUMER HAS TO WAIT 15-20 MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL START BACK UP. THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH GM AND HAVE REGISTERED TWO COMPLAINTS ON THIS CAR. SPEED IS NOT A FACTOR AND ALSO DIES WHILE IN PARK.*AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 65,000 MILES. TRANNMISSION COOLER APPARENTLY BLEW A LINE PUTTIN ANTI FREEZE THROUGH THE THE TRANSMISSION. ACCORDING TO MY SERVICE MAN A RECURRING PROBLEM WTH PONTIAC GRAND PRIXS OF THE 1999 BODY STYLE.

Mileage: 65,000

MULTIPLE REPAIR PROBLEMS--AIR PLATE WAS REPAIRED--NEW ENGINE INSTALLED AFTER HAVING ONLY 54,000 MILES WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGES--ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH RADIO DISPLAY--NOW BACK PASSENGER TIRE/POSSIBLE AXLE, STRUT; SOUNDS LIKE BACK TIRE IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF UPON HITTING BUMPS IN THE ROAD/DRIVEWAYS OR TURNING. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS CHECKED OUT-AM NOW UNABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE . *AK

RPMS JUMP 100 - 200 RPMS IN THE MATTER OF A SECOND OR TWO WHILE CAR IS ACCELERATING AND THE CAR "SURGES" OR "BUCKS" WHILE RPMS JUMP UP AND DOWN. TCC SOLENOID IN TRANSMISSION THOUGHT TO BE PROBLEM.*AK

Mileage: 28,000

INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. SEEMS TO OCCUR MORE WHEN THE CAR IS HOT. TRANSMISSION "SLAMS" WHEN UPSHIFTING INTO ANY GEAR. *LA

Mileage: 49,000

NEED TO REPAIR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON VEHICLE THAT IS 4 YEARS OLD AND HAS 49000 MILES. *JB

Mileage: 48,860

WE HAD TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION PUT INTO THE VEHICLE TOWARDS THE END OF OUR WARRANTY PERIOD. AFTER THE NEW TRANSMISSION WAS PUT IN, WE STARTED HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IS THAT THE CAR IS SHUTTERING DURING ACCELERATION. YOU CAN WATCH THE TACHOMETER AND SEE IT BOUNCE UP AND DOWN DURING THE SHUTTERING. WE FILED UNDER LEMON LAW TO HAVE THE CAR BOUGHT BACK FROM US. DURING THE ARBITRATION, THE CAR WOULD NOT SHUTTER. THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. MANY TIMES WHILE THE CAR WAS IN TO GET SERVICED ON THIS COMPLAINT, THE TECHNICIANS WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE SHUTTERING. UNFORTUNATELY, THE ARBITRATOR DID NOT SETTLE IN OUR FAVOR SINCE WE WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NOW, TWO YEARS LATER, THE PROBLEM IS BECOMING SEVERE AGAIN. IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO? THIS IS THE SECOND TIME SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR BRAND NEW THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE BAD ON US. I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER COMPLAINT FILED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. DURING THE TIME THAT THEY REPLACED OUR TRANSMISSION, THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD US THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES BEING SERVICED FOR THE SAME THING IN THIS REGION. I FEEL THAT WE SHOULD HAVE HAD THE CAR BOUGHT BACK FROM US UNDER THE LEMON LAW. UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE NOW FACED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN, EXCEPT IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY. TS

WHEN MY PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP SHIFTS INTO 3RD OR 4TH GEAR UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION, I EXPERIENCE SURGING. MANY PEOPLE WHO I SPEAK WITH SAY THAT IT COULD BE THE TCC SOLENOID. I BELONG TO CLUBGP.COM. THERE ARE PLENTY OF US ON CLUBGP WHO ARE COMPLAINING OF THIS SAME ISSUE. GOING WIDE OPEN THROTTLE, IT RUNS FINE. WHEN LIGHTLY DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL AT AROUND 25-30 MPH, THE RPM'S DROP TO ABOUT 1500 AND IT SEEMS TO REQUIRE AN AWFUL LOT OF EFFORT TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR SIMPLY BOGS. THIS HAS HAPPENED OFF AND ON FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS. FRIENDS OF MINE ARE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE A RECALL DONE ON THIS AS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM.

Mileage: 70,000

BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 26,550 MILES ON IT, OWNER HAD NO REASON TO BELIEVE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHOULD FAIL. THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED NO SYMPTOMS OF TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION UNTIL THE TRIP IN WHICH THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. ON THE TRIP WHERE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CAR MADE AN UNUSUAL NOISE AND VIBRATED A BIT WHEN THE CAR WAS PLACED IN REVERSE. THE SAME THING HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS PLACED IN DRIVE. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE PULLED AWAY FROM A STOP, IT MADE THE SAME UNUSUAL NOISE AND VIBRATION. THE NOISE AND VIBRATION SUBSIDED ONCE THE CAR WAS MOVING MORE THAN FIVE OR TEN MILES PER HOUR. AFTER TWO MILES THE VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING AFTER PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP. ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE RAN FINE, PUTTING THE CAR INTO GEAR CAUSED A NOW LOUDER NOISE AND VIBRATION BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE IN FORWARD OR REVERSE. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THE MECHANIC REMOVED THE TRANSMISSION PAN AND REPORTED A HEAVY METAL FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. PONTIAC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE SAID THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD PROVIDE NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY (VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW 3.5 YEARS AGO. WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 3 YEARS) THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 26,550 MILES WAS NOT A FACTOR. PONTIAC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PUT THE OWNER IN TOUCH WITH THE DEALER, WHO SAID HE WOULD WORK WITH THE OWNER IF HE WOULD HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED FROM THE TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST TO THE DEALERS FACILITY. WHEN ASKED WHAT WORK WITH THE OWNER MEANT. THE DEALER VOLUNTEERED THAT ALTHOUGH THE REPAIR AT THE DEALERS FACILITY MIGHT COST MORE THAN AT THE TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS FACILITY, THE DEALER MIGHT BE WILLING TO PAY 50% OF THE REPAIR COST. BECAUSE THE WORK AT THE INDEPENDENT SHOP HAD ALREADY COMMENCED. THE OWNER DID NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE DEALERS OFFER. DT

ENGINE SUDDENLY MISSES AND SOMETIMES DIES WHILE MOVING AND AT THE SAME TIME, THE TACHOMETER QUITS AND THE 'TRACTION CONTROL OFF' SWITCH-LIGHT COMES ON. THE ENGINE SOMETIMES RESTARTS IMMEDIATELY AND/OR THE ENGINE SMOOTHS OUT, BUT THE TACHOMETER REMAINS INOPERATIVE AND THE TRACTION CONTROL OFF LIGHT STAYS LIT. STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE RESETS THE TACH AND INDICATOR LIGHT. SOMETIMES WHEN THE ENGINE DOES DIE, IT WILL NOT RESTART FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES OF BEING STRANDED ON THE EXPRESSWAY.*AK

ENGINE SUDDENLY MISSES AND SOMETIMES DIES WHILE MOVING AND AT THE SAME TIME, THE TACHOMETER QUITS AND THE 'TRACTION CONTROL OFF' SWITCH-LIGHT COMES ON. THE ENGINE SOMETIMES RESTARTS IMMEDIATELY AND/OR THE ENGINE SMOOTHS OUT, BUT THE TACHOMETER REMAINS INOPERATIVE AND THE TRACTION CONTROL OFF LIGHT STAYS LIT. STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE RESETS THE TACH AND INDICATOR LIGHT. SOMETIMES WHEN THE ENGINE DOES DIE, IT WILL NOT RESTART FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES OF BEING STRANDED ON THE EXPRESSWAY.*AK

THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY DUE TO DEFECTIVE PC SOLENOID. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER BUT THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS STILL NOT CORRECTED. *YH

VEHICLE DRIVES WELL UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS FOR AT LEAST 10-15 MINUTES. AFTER VEHICLE IS DRIVEN FOR A WHILE IT JERKS INTO GEARS. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AS PROBLEM PERSISTED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

MY GRANDSON, AGE 5 WAS RUN OVER BY MY VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, WITH THE GEARSHIFT PLACED IN PARK, AND THE KEYS IN MY POCKET, HE WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE CAR OUT OF GEAR. I WAS IN THE GARAGE, A FEW FEET AWAY WHEN I HEARD HIM CRYING. I TURNED AROUND AND SAW HIM ATTEMPTING TO GET OUT OF THE CAR - THE CAR WAS ROLLING BACKWARDS - HE FELL OUT, AND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL RAN COMPLETELY OVER HIS ABDOMEN AND HIPS. HE SUSTAINED SOME DAMAGE TO HIS LIVER AND ABRASIONS TO HIS BACK. I DROVE HIM IMMEDIATELY TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL IN DELAWARE, OH WHERE HE WAS EXAMINED IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM, THEN MEDIFLIGHTED TO CHILDRENS HOSPITAL IN COLUMBUS, OH. HE WAS IN INTENSIVE CARE FOR 1 1/2 DAYS, AND IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 5 DAYS TOTAL. HE IS ALSO SEEING A CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST WHO HAS DIAGNOSED HIM WITH POST TRAUMATIC DISORDER, AND IS SEEING HIM ON A REGULAR BASIS. MY DAUGHTER'S AND MY CONCERN IS THAT GMC, THOUGH PURCHASING MY VEHICLE BACK, AND HAVING SENT AN INVESTIGATOR DOWN WHO WAS ABLE TO ALSO TAKE THE CAR OUT OF PARK WHEN TURNED OFF WITH THE KEYS REMOVED, HAS YET TO ADMIT LIABILITY. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN TO ANOTHER CHILD, WITH EVEN WORSE RESULTS. PLEASE HELP US SEE THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN! THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *AK

ENGINE IS SURGING BETWEEN 50-60 PLUS MILES PER HOUR RANGE, PONTIAC DEALER RECOMMENDS TRANSMISSION CHANGE EVEN THOUGH CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT. TYPICALLY NOTHING SHOULD BE DONE ON CAR TILL OVER 100,000 MILES. BOUGHT AS USED CAR AND DEALER STATES I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT EXTENDED WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T HAVE MONEY TO DO SO, BUT I BOUGHT CAR WITH 40,000 MILES ON IT. SHOULDN'T HAVE TO REPLACE WHEN USED FOR ONLY 20,000 MILES. SOUNDS LIKE A RIP-OFF TO ME. WHAT CAN WE DO WITH IT AND CAN WE FIND OUT PREVIOUS OWNERS AND IF HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT BEFORE I BOUGHT IT? THANKS ALOT. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CAR STALLS ON ACCEL,TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD IN TO 2ND GEAR

WHILE VEHICLE WAS ON AND TRANSMISSION PAWL WAS IN PARK, PAWL JUMPED FROM PARK TO DRIVE ON A FLAT SURFACE WHERE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. *AK

THE LEFT DRIVESHAFT SEAL HAS BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES (A WEAR PROBLEM) IT IS NOW LEAKING AGAIN. INFRARED ANALYSIS OF THE TRANSMISSION OIL REVEALS FLUID SIMILAR TO DIESEL FUEL MIXED WITH IT. *AK

AXLE BEARING WENT OUT, CAUSING A REAL LOUD NOISE. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM. ALSO, ALTERNATOR WENT OUT, AND WAS ALSO MAKING A NOISE. TOOK TO DEA LER AND THEY REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP AND ALTENATOR. REAR WINDOW SWITCH ALSO WENT BAD AND STOPPED WORKING, TOOK TO DEALER WHO REPLACED THAT. *AK